Batman: Arkham Asylum

"I set a trap, and you sprung it gloriously"...And with these words, spoken by a maniacal (and superbly voiced) Joker, begins one of the first ever superhero videogames that actually FEELS like a superhero game.

I won't go too much into the storyline; much of that is everywhere on the internet, and also in these Amazon reader reviews. Rather, I will talk about the many things the game does right, and also the one or two small things it doesn't quite nail.

First and foremost, it must be said that the Batman portrayed in Batman: Arkham Asylum is perhaps one of the best renderings of the iconic hero outside of the comics and graphic novels. Strong-willed, resourceful, forward-thinking, brooding, supercool...everything that makes a good Batman is there, brought to the fore and exploited by the game designers with amazing results. Add to that Kevin Conroy's tone-perfect voice acting, and you have a Batman that stands out in his own right as one of the franchise's finest embodiments of the character.

The same can be said about the lead villain, The Joker. There is something so charismatic, so appealing about this Joker that his cut scenes are an absolute joy to watch...you can't help but be mesmerized at his movements and his crazy laughter. And although the plot is pretty flat and standard madman-hatches-a-crazy-plan fare, this Joker takes the scenario to a new level simply because you believe that this character is, in fact, completely insane in a chillingly calculating way.

Other villains that make their appearances are treated with similar respect. Even the more recent addition to the Batverse, Harley Quinn, is portrayed well here, despite being in a completely reworked costume (do not believe the comic book geeks on the forums - the changes made to her outfit are for the better).

For true Batman fans, the game features plenty of nods to many of the series characters in the form of artefacts to be found around Arkham Asylum. Finding these unlocks character biographies and fact sheets. Some of the more important villains featured in the game are fleshed out even further with interview tapes detailing some back stories and scenarios not really pertinent to the game - but which add to the entire experience.

The combat is relatively simple and easy to execute, and yet surprisingly deep. Once you have mastered the controls, you can't help but try string together combos to get a freeflow bonus. The animations for Batman's fighting style, incorporating various types of martial arts moves, is expertly implemented. Not only that, but some really cool gadgets (and of course the old faithful Batarang) are added into the mix. The result is a fluid and ridiculously addictive gameplay mechanic that carries over into the non-storyline challenges. Be warned though - these combat and stealth challenges are nefariously tweaked to result in a "just-one-more-try" effect at 2 in the morning...

The two distinct types of combat also help to keep things fresh. The combat against unarmed foes relies on your reactions and ability to string together combos. The combat against armed gunmen, however, requires a completely different, stealth-based approach. Very few things come close to making you feel like the Batman quite like picking off your enemies silently, one by one.

Although Batman: AA very definitely lives up to the hype surrounding it, there are some small issues here and there. The most disappointing of these are the boss fights. Most of them are relatively samey, relying heavily on Batman's Batarang and his ability to dodge attacks. Don't get me wrong: the bosses are fun to fight. However, a little more inspiration and variety would have gone a long way, especially with the anticlimactic final battle.

Also, every now and then the controls are just not precise enough - on a handful of occasions I tried to drop in silently behind an armed enemy so that I could perform a silent takedown, only to find myself landing directly in front of aforementioned enemy with an assault rifle pointed at my cowl. Holy unexpected death, Batman.

So then, a quick summary of my feelings:

+ Batman! Joker! Brilliantly and lovingly depicted.
+ Almost like a walk through a museum of the Batman universe.
+ Gameplay is solid.
+ Incredible (and I mean that) graphics, audio, and soundtrack.

- Disappointing and samey boss fights
- Controls not always precise enough (but not REALLY problematic)
- Sometimes the camera gets itself into really awkward and unhelpful positions.

All in all, forget the fact that this is a licensed game. Don't consider whether or not you are a Batman fan. Just get the game. It is a superb piece of entertainment that will immerse you, surprise you, and keep you interested. And it will make you feel like a superhero to boot. Result!

OK so I got this game yesterday and spent till the early hours this morning playing it. I will be honest I was slightly sceptical when purchasing this title on the sole basis that it is a computer game based on a comic book character (Which never usually works), however this one game could have made up for all of the previous comic book character games shortfalls.
The main part of the game focuses on one particular story, the Joker taking over Arkham asylm, however as you progress through the game you meet other well known super villains such as the Scarecrow and Bane. I have played around 8 hours into the main story mode so far and I know that I still have to meet posion Ivy and Killer Croc, as well as beating Harley Quinn and the Joker so the depth of the main stroyline is immense. Add in the additional challenge of solving and finding all 240 of the Riddlers challenge, which in itself is really hard. I can see me replaying through the main mission to batman quite a few times.
As well as the story mode you are also presented with a challenge mode, which gives you the options of beating other people online through score tables. These challenges vary from beating up a select few thugs to a timed challenge being stealthy and taking out goons with guns. If you are quite into trying to top the tables on line this is a great addition to the game itself.
Graphics and sound in the game are fantastic, and sometimes it does present a distinct eerie feel to it when meeting some villans (I dont wanna spoil too much for you).
The gameply itself is certainly original. The only other game I could really compare this to is Metal Gear solid. You do have to think how you can sneak up on bad guys or formulate a plan to take out several people with guns. This can vary from using a grapple hook to climb high, to hiding in drain pipes. Each boss battle requires a different set of skills to defeat them from staying out of their glare to using the batarang to stun them so you can hit them.
If I was to be hyper critical and point out a flaw in the game it would be the depth of the manual. It just doesnt really go into the game to much, however the game does have ingame teaching in a very subtle way which compensates for this.
Overall I have given Batman a 5 star because it is one of the most original games I have played this year. My only hope is they do a sequel, on the cover it states that Xbox world gave it 95% and Gamesmaster gave it 96% review which I think the game richly deserves.
Thank you for your time reading my review.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is a great game. Speaking as a Batman fan, particularly of the comic books and animated series (two Batman continuites this game is heavily influenced by), this game gets a full 5 stars. Scripted by brilliant Batman: The Animated Series writer Paul Dini, the excellent portrayals of the best villain collection in superhero history are one of the first things you notice about this game. Batman: The Animated Series veteran Mark Hamill (or Luke Skywalker, for all you Star Wars fans) is doing some of the best voicover work of his already celebrated career as the Joker, with the wonderfully comic-booky graphics adding to his gleeful yet menacing performance. Also returning from the animated series are Kevin Conroy as Batman and Arleen Sorkin as the always fantastic Harley Quinn, both giving it their all and nicely bringing their characters to life. The aformentioned graphics and creepy, haunted-house-setting create a detective mystery crime noir feel, but the action scenes also benefit from the gritty atmosphere.

So the game manages to capture your interest right away, with the opening cutscene a great introduction to the place the entire game is set; ancient, eerie nuthouse Arkham Asylum. Batman is delivering the Joker back to his cell, but something isn't right. The Warden has been taken prisoner and it's up to the Caped Crusader to save the Asylum and thwart Joker's plan. The player is thrown right into action, with the first fight allowing you to practice the simple, three-button combat system of Attack, Counter and Stun. Experimenting with different combos and freeflow fighting tactics is fun for a while, but eventually it does get repetitive. Thankfully the game manages to seamlessly blend together the two main elements of what Batman does - for he is a detective first and a vigilante second.

That's where the Detective Mode comes in. The simple tap of a button allows you two instantly single out enemies, possible escape routes or hidden items. The Detective Mode is a blessing - I found myself playing nearly the whole game with it switched on. It is just so useful - if you're low on health and couldn't possibly take on five armed henchmen with just your brawn, it forces you to use your brain to find alternate routes around the badguys. You'll find yourself overcome with satisfaction as you explore different ways to silently take enemies out without their accomplices realising, as their visible heartrate increases, their mood building up from 'Calm', with the all-too-real AI making smug comments and sneering for Batman to do his worst, to 'Nervous', then, eventually, 'Terrified' when the henchmen fire their weapons randomly and cry out for Batman to leave them alone. Slightly demented? Yes. But does it put you in the shoes of the Dark Knight Detective in a way that could only be matched by actually dressing up like a bat, leaping off gargoyles and beating up clowns? Definitely.

An even more joyous feature added purely for the hardcore fans are the hidden Riddler trophies scattered throughout the vast levels of the building and its grounds. Many of the villain's puzzles revolve around famous moments from Batman's history, which will delight fans, but people with little knowledge of the Caped Crusader's world can still have fun - they'll just have to look a little harder. The unlockable items range from strange messages hidden in the Asylum by its founder, whose story will only be revealed when every message is collected, to Patient Interview Tapes, which give you a deeper look at some of the Asylum's more twisted inmates.

Non-Batman fans will still be pleased with this as a video game, as the gameplay and story are very compelling and original in their own right, but you really have to be a fan to experience Batman: Arkham Asylum to its full. Bane yelling 'I'll BREAK you!' in mid-fight, for example, is something only the fans will get. You'll laugh at the poster for Penguin's 'Ice Lounge', you'll spend hours searching for hidden Riddler clues like the Scarface Dummy in the Warden's office, or the bench in the Botanical Gardens dedicated to Thomas and Martha Wayne, or Calendar Man's date-riddled cell. I urge you to buy the game, it's a spectacular blend of various Batman worlds, original gameplay and particularly fine attention to detail. Roll on Arkham Asylum 2!